Convertible settee and bed



NOV. 20, 1934. HAMPTQN CONVERTIBLE sE'rTEE AND BED Filed Nov. 13, 1933 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 1mm '"lull/1111111111111! INVENTOR ,FRED HAMPTON M "1 ATTORNEY Nbv. 20, 1934. F, AMP ON 1,981,143

CONVERTIBLE SETTEE AND BED Filed Nov. 13, 1933 S SheetS-Sheet 2 INVENTOR FRED HAMPTON ATTORNEY NOV. 20, 1934. F HAMPTON CONVERTIBLE SETTEE AND BED 3 Sheets-Sheet: 3

Filed Nov. 15, 1935 INVENTOR FRED HAMPTON ATTORN EY Fatentecl Nov. 2Q, 11%34 SKATES retain CUNVERTKBLE SIET'IIEE AND nan Fred Hampton, Brooklyn, N. Y, assignor oi one-= third to Charles A. Light and one-third to Max Glick, both of New York, N. Y.

Application November 13, 1933, Serial No. 697,73@

2 Claims.

My present invention relates to convertible settees and beds, and more particularly to a novel and improved type of slidable lounge bed having a collapsible back support adapted to function as a bed.

Slidable lounge beds of the type employing a collapsible back as a stand for a bed, thereby providing a double bed, are known in the prior art. However, such constructions as have been 110 known have proven impractical for everyday use. Consequently, this desirable type of convertible settee and bed has not been commercialized, and is in fact relatively unknown to the present user, as well as the potential user, of a combined lounge bed.

Hence, it may be stated that it is one of the primary objects of the present invention to simplify and make highly practical the construction of a convertible settee-bed of the aforesaid typ In rendering practical a combined lounge bed of the present type it is essential to construct the slidable seat member of the lounge in such a manner that it presents no hooks or look elements, which may catch in the bedding usually stored in the hollow compartment provided in the stationary body of the lounge. Accordingly, it can be stated that it is an important object of this invention to provide a convertible settee-bed which when folded provides an upholstered settee, and in extended position provides a pair of upholstered bed frames, the tops of which are arranged in the same plane, and one of which upholstered bed frames is hingedly mountcharacter specified, a hinged back member with dual upholstered surfaces, one surface providing one of two bed sections when the device is in extended position, and the other surface providing a settee back when the back member is in upright position, the hinge construction being such that it is possible to swing the back member ed on a relatively stationary body having a holdownwards while the member is against a wall without moving the entire lounge.

In prior lounges of the present type an accidental moving of the lounge back member resulted in a projection of lounge seat member. This resulted in inconvenience, and grave prejudice against such types of convertible lounges. Therefore, it is still another object of the invention to provide in a lounge of the type readily convertible into a double bed a folding back memher hinged at its end edges to a stationary sup- Y porting body structure, said folding member having dual upholstered surfaces, one surface being of less width than the other and adaptedv to act as the lounge back, while the other surto face of said hinged member is of greater width and is capable of use. as an upholstered sur- I face for a bed, the lounge having an upholstered seat member, constructed to be slid-able over said body, and adapted to function as a bedsurface, there being provided means for positively looking the seat member against motion even though the back member be pushed forward, or accidentally leaned against, said seat member being slidable only when the locking means is released.

Still another object of my invention is to provide in combination with the hinged back member of a convertible lounge, a slidable seat member having an upholstered frame arranged to slide over, and to enclose, a non-upholstered stationary supporting body to which the upholstered back member is hinged, latching means being provided adjacent the front edge of the seat member to permit the latter to be actuated without touching the back member.

The novel features which I believe to be characteristic of my invention are set forth in particularity in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to its organization and method of operation, will best be understood by reference to the following description taken in connection with the drawings in which I have indicated diagrammatically a construction whereby my invention may be carried into effect.

In the drawings:-

Fig. l is a view in plan, with a portion of the seat upholstery broken away, of the convertible settee bed in normal lounge position,

Fig. 2 is a view in extended, or bed, position of the convertible settee shown in Fig. 1, a portion of the seat upholstery being broken away,

Fig. 3 is an end view of the convertible settee shown in Fig. 1 in the lounge position,

Fig. 4 is an end view of the convertible settee shown in Fig. 2.

the floor.

49 the seat portion of a settee.

Fig. 5 is a section on the line 55 of Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrows,

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary section on the line 66 of Fig. 3, looking in the direction of the 5 arrows,

' Fig. 7 is a plan view in perspective of the convertible settee with the seat portion in bed position and certain parts being broken away to show the latching mechanism.

Referring now to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals in the different views designate similar elements, the numeral 1 indicates a relatively stationary inner frame or supporting body, which, as shown, is in the form of an oblong 15 box, preferably reinforced at its upper and lower edges by angle irons, and having angle iron portions disposed vertically at the corners and terminating in feet provided with suitable floorcontacting devices, which raise the structure off The box 1 has an open top, and various articles of bedding, as pillows, blankets, linens, may be stored therein when the device is merely used as a lounge.

The supporting body 1 has hinged thereto,

adjacent to one longitudinal edge thereof, a

so of greater width and is adapted to serve as a bed frame when said hinged member is folded downwardly over the stationary box body 1. There is. further connected to the stationary box body 1, and preferably to the longitudinal edge thereof opposite to that on which the mem ber2 is mounted, a slidable frame member 3. The member 3 is adapted, in folded position and with one edge thereof abutting the upholstered surface 2' of the back member 2, to function as This position is shown in Figs. 1 and 3. In extended position the member 3 operates to function as one of the halves of a double bed, the other half of which comprises the combined settee back and 5 bed frame 2, the parts being so arranged that 2, 4 and 7.

The combined settee-back and bed-frame 2 is provided with a recess extending along one longitudinal edge to planes adjacent to the ends thereof, and is pivoted intermediate its longitudinal edges in said recess by means of a bracket 4 to the upper end rails 1' of the stationary body 1. The member 2, when in horizontal position is preferably supported above, or slightly raised from, the box body 1 by the abutment of the piv- 50 oted brackets at opposite ends against the stops 21, thus positively preventing contact between the upholstered surface 2'of the settee back 2 and the edges of body 1. In Fig. 4 is shown the manner in which the surface 21 is spaced from the edges of rail 1'. In this way the upholstered surface '2' of the settee, or lounge, back 2 is prevented from becoming injured when the back is swung into bed position. In prior devices of this type, when the lounge back was swung downwards to convert the lounge into a bed, the upholstery would eventually become damaged due to the frictional contact between the upholstered surface and the edgesagainst which the former would ear. 2 Suitable stops are provided for limiting the swinging movement of said combined settee back and bed frame, and, as illustrated, a stop lug 4 is provided to engage the end of the pivoted brackw et 4. The stops 4' act to limit the upward swinging movement of the bracket end to cause the proper positioning of the settee back 2 in upright position, while the lower reinforcing rails 23 of the stationary box body 1 are provided with the stop lugs 21 which are adapted, as explained above, to engage, and stop the downward swing of, the bracket 4 to cause the proper positioning of the surface 21 in a horizontal plane and in proper relationship to the body 1. In Fig. 4 the numeral 30 designates a wall against which the lounge is placed. It will be observed that, unlike prior devices of this type, it is possible to swing the member 2 into lounge or bed positions without moving the lounge from wall 30 and without jamming of the lower edge ofmember 2 against the wall.

Referring to Fig. 5 it will be seen that the upholstered surface 20 of the member 2 is of greater width than the surface 2'. The member 2 is provided with a shoulder 24 which extends over the longitudinal edges of the body portion so as to provide the recess into which said longitudinal edge of the body portion extends. The slidable member 3 embodies a frame of greater length than the supporting body 1, and is adapted in folded position to fit over, and completely close, the latter. As illustrated in Fig. 3, the seat member 3 is supported by feet 3' at each corner. These supporting feet are composed of angle-iron supports 26 at the ends of which are provided castors 25 resting upon the floor, and adapted to roll thereon to permit the ready sliding inwardly and outwardly of the member 3.

The seat member 3 is guided to move over the body 1 without sticking. jamming or binding by means of a foldable, collapsible, extension element 5. This extension element comprises double pairs of levers, one pair comprising the levers 51, 52, one of which is fixedly pivoted at 53 to the outer and upper longitudinal edge of the body 1, while the other is similarly fixedly pivoted at 54 to the outer longitudinal edge of the member 3.

These'levers 51 and 52 have their ends pivoted together at 55. The other pair of articulating levers, or arms, comprise the levers 56 and 5'7 respectively.

The levers 56 and 5'7 are respectively pivoted at 58 and 59 to the levers 52 and 51, having one of their ends pivoted together at 60. As illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, the end of the levers 5'7 is provided with a pin 61 which slides in slot 62 in the upper rail of the body, while the lever 56 is provided with a pin 63 which slides in a slot 64 in a metallic plate 70 fastened to the upper angle iron frame 71 of the member 3. The levers cross each other intermediatetheir ends, and form between the ends thereof a folding and extensible parallelogram.

This arrangement of levers provides a releasable, or detachable, connection between the stationary box body 1 and the slidable seat member 3 as the pins 53, 61, 54 and 63 may be lifted out of their respective bores and slots, if so desired. The system of levers also provides a guide means to guide the movement of the sliding seat member 3 over the body 1, and to prevent any binding or jamming action between the two members during-the folding or extension movements thereof. The extension movement of the levers is guided, and they are prevented from dropping by means of a strap 80, fastened at opposite ends to the angle bar frame of the member 3.

I of the member 3.

eanna The slidable seat member 3 is provided with latching means to positively maintain the seat member locked against movement when the seat member is in overlapping position with respect to the box body 1. Fig. 7 shows the details of this latching mechanism, and it will be observed that the mechanism comprises a horizontal bar 30 which is supported at either end thereof by a pair of plates 31 and 32.

Plate 31 is secured to one of the front supporting feet 26 of the seat member 3, while the plate 32 is secured to the other front supporting foot Each end of the rod 30 is provided with a lever arm, the manually operable lever arm 33 being formed from one end of rod 30 by being bent into the shape shown in Fig. '7, the arm 33 extending from the plate 31. The manually operable arm 34 is similarly formed from the other end of arm 30 and extends from the plate 32. The rod 30 is supported at substantially its central point by a strap 35' depending from the angle iron 71 of the frame of seat 3.

Between plate 31 and strap 35 the rod 30 is provided with a dog 36 which is shaped as shown and projects from the rod 30 towards the rear of the lounge. A second dog 37 is similarly provided on the rod 30 between plate 32 and the strap 35. A spring 38 is secured at one end thereof to the arm 33, while its other end is secured to the wire lacing 39, shown only in a fragmentary manner in dotted lines to preserve simplicity of description, and it is to be understood that the spring associated with the arm 34 is similarly secured between the bed spring wire lacing 39 and the arm 34.

The springs 38 and. 40 function to normally maintain the arms 33 and 34 in upraised position and in contact with the upper stops 41. The lower stops 42 provide a limit beyond which the arms 33 and 34 cannot be moved in a downward direction. Thus it will be seen that in normal position, and as shown in Fig. 7, the dogs 36 and 37 are in their uppermost position.

The upper edge of the portion of box 1 adjacent the front rail 1' is provided with a pair of slots, only one of which 43 is shown in detail. The slots extend below the lower edge of the rail 1',

'and thus permit the dogs 36 and 3'7 to be moved downwards as the seat member 3 is moved towards the back member 1. That is when the seat member 3 is moved to lounge position, the upper edges, as 36' in the case of dog 36, of the dogs slide along the lower edges of the rail/1, and the dog is forced downwards against the pull of springs 38 and 40. When the rearmost point of edge 36' of dog 36, for example, slides by, the edge 44, the pull of springs 38 and 40 will result in catching of the rear edges of dogs 36 and 37 against the vertical face of angle iron 1'.

To slide the seat member 3 into bed position it is only necessary to manually push the arms 33 and 34 toward stops 42. This rocks rod 30, and results in moving dogs 36 and 37 out of contact with the vertical face of angle iron 1. The

" seat member 3 may now be moved forward.

The provision of the pair of latching devices, one on each side of the lounge, results in increased stability when the lounge is closed. Side sway, or rocking, is effectively prevented by this device.

While I have indicated and described a system for carrying my invention into effect, it will be apparent to one skilled in the art that my invention is by no means limited to the particular construction shown and described, but that many modifications may be made without departing from the scope of my invention, as set forth in the appended claims.

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. An improvement in a convertible settee bed of the type including a box body provided with a storage compartment, a settee back pivotally secured to said body adjacent an edge thereof and a lounge seat member slidably arranged over said box body, said improvement comprising a latching means secured to said seat member adjacent an edge thereof parallel to said body edge, said latching means comprising a rod having a length substantially equal to that of the said seat member edge, the said rod being provided with a pair of spaced dogs, said body being provided with a pair of spaced openings in a wall of said compartment, said openings being disposed adjacent the edge of said body parallel to said first body edge and each opening being in alignment at all times with a corresponding dog of said latching means whereby said dogs enter said openings when said seat member is over said body, and a releasemeans secured to said latching means rod for permitting withdrawal of said latching means dogs from said openings.

2. An improvement in a convertible settee bed of the type comprising a box body provided with a storage compartment, a settee back pivotally secured to said body adjacent the rear edge thereof, and a lounge seat member slidably arranged over said box body, said improvement comprising a latching device for positively maintaining the seat member and settee back locked against movement when the seat member is in position over the box body, said latching device including a rod of a length substantially equal to the length of the front edge of said seat member, means secured to said seat member adjacent said front edge for pivotally supporting said rod, a pair of relatively widely spaced latch elements provided on said rod, said latch elements extending towards the rear edge of said seat member, spring means for normally maintaining said rod and latch elements in an upraised position, means on the front wall of said box body providing a pair of relatively widely spaced devices adapted to cooperate with said spaced latch elements to lock the latter when moved into contact with the spaced devices by movement of the seat member over said box body, each retaining device being in alignment at all times with its corresponding latch element and at least one release handle secured to said rod for moving the rod and latch elements against the pull of said spring means whereby the locked latch elements may be re- 

